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I'm not sure what the critics of the Newton move think the risk even is.
It's not money. Virtually none of it is guaranteed and like 75+% of it is incentives that won't hit the cap unless he plays like a Pro Bowler...at which point the deal is still a fantastic bargain... and they hit the 2021 cap, not 2020.
He sucks? Cut for almost no cost.
Attitude problem too big to ignore? Cut him for almost no cost.
Stidham or Hoyer beat him out for the job? Cut him for almost no cost.
You might notice there is a pattern here.
Meanwhile Newton gets arguably the best shot to rehabilitate his career (at least if the Pats can get some semblance of WR play...) so he has every reason to be motivated.
Who cares? It only matters if he's good. If he's a bildo and they still get a ring, they still got a ring. Conversely, if he sucks it doesn't matter if he's a super nice guy about it.
The only risk people have mentioned that actually exists for real is potentially stunting Stidham's development. I'd counter that by saying the bench might be better for him than being thrown into the fire with little skill position help.
I'd also counter by saying Stidham's development should not be what we base all of our decisions around considering he might not even be the long term answer.